David Attenborough is coming!
- Thread starter nanoboy
- Start date
How fantastic was it? I was in awe the whole time. I guess I expected him to be both entertaining and educational at the same time but he brought it to a whole new level. Even Ray Martin did his part superbly without interjecting too often but keeping the story flowing. It was seriously better than any concert or theatre that I've been to.
I think I should thank you again, Nanoboy, for the ticket help
I think I should thank you again, Nanoboy, for the ticket help
nanoboy
Well-Known Member
How fantastic was it? I was in awe the whole time. I guess I expected him to be both entertaining and educational at the same time but he brought it to a whole new level. Even Ray Martin did his part superbly without interjecting too often but keeping the story flowing. It was seriously better than any concert or theatre that I've been to.
I think I should thank you again, Nanoboy, for the ticket help
Not a problem.
I am looking forward to the talk tomorrow in Melbourne. Today I managed to get in to a private talk he did at the Melbourne Zoo.
If you had replied to the thread yesterday, I would have casually mentioned that you should head to the zoo to catch a glimpse of him. I will post pics later.Not a problem.
I am looking forward to the talk tomorrow in Melbourne. Today I managed to get in to a private talk he did at the Melbourne Zoo.
He mentioned that he was going to the zoo last night but of all the Fridays it could have been it clashed with a mid-term test and three hours of pracs.
How was the talk today?
nanoboy
Well-Known Member
What a fantastic show at the Regent Theatre last night!
The attached photo gives you an idea of how the show was executed.
The show reminded me of an intimate fireside chat with Sir David, leather chairs and all. Host, Ray Martin, although playing the role of an interviewer, came across more like David's friend (albeit with a clipboard, and without a pint), and often times the conversation veered slightly off course - which was a fantastic bonus.
In the photo, you will be able to see a huge screen; this screen was used to project videos from David's 60 year career. Videos shown included footage from his early 'Zoo Quest' days, to more modern, iconic series like 'Life on Earth', to a future series on plants, to his most memorable experience with the mountain gorillas.
We were also treated to some bloopers, with David sliding in the snow, to being chased by an elephant seal, to him being half-naked in Solomon Island traditional garb. David also shared wonderful stories that were so vivid, that you really did not need to see a video to imagine it. For example, he set the scene for his gorilla encounter, and awed us with his account of the baby gorillas undoing his shoes - only to be told by his cameramen that they did not record it because they did not want to waste film!
David has such a wonderful sense of humour, that the laughs just kept coming. He spoke for about two and a half hours, and his energy and presence was overpowering. Having said that, he steered clear of sounding self-righteous, in that although he mentioned our exploding population and Australia's carbon tax, he did not comment on contraception or his take on domestic politics.
He took 5 questions from the audience that were more or less drawn out of a hat - some of which were dumb ("Do you think using social media to post pics of animals is a good thing, given that a person could discover a new species?" [He asked the person to rephrase the question because he did not understand.]), to some really good ones ("What is your view on the anthropomorphising of animals?"). He even brought a 10-year old boy to demo a new app they are working on to showcase plants.
The cost of the tickets, I thought, were exorbitant (~$250 to sit near the front) and I wasn't the happiest camper originally. However, had I known how amazing and memorable the show was going to be, I would have gladly maxed out my credit card for a ticket. On the topic of cost, I was a bit surprised that they did not mention that "a portion of the box office receipts will be donated to xyz conservation fund". I cannot imagine that an 86-year old man would be too interested in money for himself.
Given the man's age, this was probably a once in a lifetime opportunity, and it is something that no one in the audience would ever forget. The world will be a poorer planet when he leaves us.
The attached photo gives you an idea of how the show was executed.
The show reminded me of an intimate fireside chat with Sir David, leather chairs and all. Host, Ray Martin, although playing the role of an interviewer, came across more like David's friend (albeit with a clipboard, and without a pint), and often times the conversation veered slightly off course - which was a fantastic bonus.
In the photo, you will be able to see a huge screen; this screen was used to project videos from David's 60 year career. Videos shown included footage from his early 'Zoo Quest' days, to more modern, iconic series like 'Life on Earth', to a future series on plants, to his most memorable experience with the mountain gorillas.
We were also treated to some bloopers, with David sliding in the snow, to being chased by an elephant seal, to him being half-naked in Solomon Island traditional garb. David also shared wonderful stories that were so vivid, that you really did not need to see a video to imagine it. For example, he set the scene for his gorilla encounter, and awed us with his account of the baby gorillas undoing his shoes - only to be told by his cameramen that they did not record it because they did not want to waste film!
David has such a wonderful sense of humour, that the laughs just kept coming. He spoke for about two and a half hours, and his energy and presence was overpowering. Having said that, he steered clear of sounding self-righteous, in that although he mentioned our exploding population and Australia's carbon tax, he did not comment on contraception or his take on domestic politics.
He took 5 questions from the audience that were more or less drawn out of a hat - some of which were dumb ("Do you think using social media to post pics of animals is a good thing, given that a person could discover a new species?" [He asked the person to rephrase the question because he did not understand.]), to some really good ones ("What is your view on the anthropomorphising of animals?"). He even brought a 10-year old boy to demo a new app they are working on to showcase plants.
The cost of the tickets, I thought, were exorbitant (~$250 to sit near the front) and I wasn't the happiest camper originally. However, had I known how amazing and memorable the show was going to be, I would have gladly maxed out my credit card for a ticket. On the topic of cost, I was a bit surprised that they did not mention that "a portion of the box office receipts will be donated to xyz conservation fund". I cannot imagine that an 86-year old man would be too interested in money for himself.
Given the man's age, this was probably a once in a lifetime opportunity, and it is something that no one in the audience would ever forget. The world will be a poorer planet when he leaves us.
Attachments
is picture number two like that game on "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" where the person can't see what's behind them but has to narrate the scene
nanoboy
Well-Known Member
is picture number two like that game on "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" where the person can't see what's behind them but has to narrate the scene
If it's one man who can narrate a scene, it's him.
Sir David names the top 10 endangered species for his ark
Good to see the Northern Quoll's plight get some attention from DA. Not sure about "mouse-like" though....
Good to see the Northern Quoll's plight get some attention from DA. Not sure about "mouse-like" though....
nanoboy
Well-Known Member
I wish people wouldnt post on this thread...Its making me need to go to a book signing he is giving near me on Thursday, even if funds are tight!
Which book is he signing?
CambsVet
Well-Known Member
The birds of paradise one... ummm I forget the name Drawn from paradise or something to that effect.
I was very lucky to meet him at the signing for "The Trials of Life" book in 1990 in Newcastle upon tyne The Q went around the block and I had arrived early!
After an age in the cold (nearly December) I stood before him, due to the volume he only signed his name but after all the years of watching him I wanted a word! I told him my mother had hoped I would turnout like him or Gerry Durrell, "what do you do" he asked I'm a gardener I replied, "ah i could write a book on botany, but not on Gardening" you write it Sir David, and I'll buy it! he laughed. It was after this meeting that the "private life of plants" was produced............that's all I'm saying.
though I doubt I gave him the idea i asssume it was already in the pipe line.
My partner later got the" Private life of plants" signed for me by simply walking in of the street in Manchester one day, no Que nothing, I wish I had been with him, the chat I missed out on.
I saw him again at Gerry Durrell's memorial service at the national history museum in London on what was my 34th birthday but i didn't get to speak.
Dean
After an age in the cold (nearly December) I stood before him, due to the volume he only signed his name but after all the years of watching him I wanted a word! I told him my mother had hoped I would turnout like him or Gerry Durrell, "what do you do" he asked I'm a gardener I replied, "ah i could write a book on botany, but not on Gardening" you write it Sir David, and I'll buy it! he laughed. It was after this meeting that the "private life of plants" was produced............that's all I'm saying.
though I doubt I gave him the idea i asssume it was already in the pipe line. My partner later got the" Private life of plants" signed for me by simply walking in of the street in Manchester one day, no Que nothing, I wish I had been with him, the chat I missed out on.
I saw him again at Gerry Durrell's memorial service at the national history museum in London on what was my 34th birthday but i didn't get to speak.
Dean